Top SmackDown Rumors: Veteran Superstar confirms reason for leaving WWE; Backstage reaction to Champion's insensitive remarks on air; Roman Reigns'exit; Sheamus plans (25th September)

#4 Backstage reaction to SmackDown Tag Team Champion Shinsuke Nakamura saying 'cancer' on-air

A few weeks back on RAW, the SmackDown Tag Team Champions Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura made their way to the red brand. During a battle of words with The Street Profits, the former US Champion Nakamura said something which drew the ire of some fans.

Here is what he said:

"If they want smoke, they will get cancer".

This came across as insensitive to some as WWE has always projected themselves as a company that always helps cancer patients. However, this wasn't a line that SmackDown's Nakamura came up with himself but was actually given a script to follow. The original plan was to give him a fresh script, but they didn't. Therefore there was no backstage heat on The Artist.

Here is what Dave Meltzer stated on WOR regarding the incident:

We were told that the cancer line was not supposed to make it onto the show but with so much happening behind the scenes someone simply forgot to use a different version of Nakamura’s promo.